Newsawards 2015: night of celebration for best in the business

THE Guardian, i, Leicester Mercury, West Ferry Printers and Interpress NI were the big winners at last night’s newsawards 2015, the only awards that celebrate the best in news media print, digital and business innovation.

More than 500 industry team leaders, managers and executives gathered at the Lancaster London for the gala event, hosted by comedian Al Murray – aka the Pub Landlord – and sponsored by Fujifilm and PJ magazine. Now in their 19th year, the revamped Newspaper Awards were divided into three sections: print, digital and business innovation.

The Guardian won three digital awards: News Website of the Year, Best Use of User Generated Content and News App of the Year, while the National Newspaper of the Year prize went to i and the Leicester Mercury picked up the prize for regional Newspaper of the Year.

The coveted printer awards went to Westferry (national) and Interpress NI (regional), while Printed Innovation of the Year went to Newbury Weekly News and Trinity Mirror Newsroom 3.1 picked up the gong for Digital Innovation of the Year.

But the Grand Prix of the night, awarded to the product that brings together the best of print, digital and print innovation, went to Eastern Daily Press with an entry that judges applauded for its compelling mix of innovative mix of print and digital success.

Awards director, and PJ publisher and editor, Gary Cullum said: “As this year’s newsawards testify, news publishing is tough and robust and has the resilience to ensure that it emerges strongly from recent structural and financial pain.

“We not only deliver some of the best print quality seen anywhere in the world but are among world leaders in digital development and multi-platform audience growth.”

During the evening guests raised £5,500 for the Rory Peck Trust – the only organisation dedicated to the support, safety and welfare of freelance newsgatherers around the world.

Newsawards 2015 winners:

Fujifilm Grand Prix Eastern Daily Press

THE PRINT AWARDS

National Newspaper Printer of the Year Westferry Printers – Daily Star, Daily Express

Regional Newspaper Printer of the Year Interpress NI – The Irish News, The Impartial Reporter, Down Recorder